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Garda brothers' charity cycle to
Africa
02.06.11
by Linda McGrory
TWO Garda brothers from Clonmany are taking part in
the cycling challenge of a lifetime to raise money
for people suffering from depression.
Johnny and Joe Doherty will join Garda friends, Ian
Finlay and Andy Gillespie, as well as Lorcan Fields,
an AIB bank employee, for the gruelling three-week
cycle from Dublin to Tangier, Morocco. All money
raised will go to Aware, Defeat Depression.
The men will start their epic 'From Here to Tangier'
journey on September 10 with Johnny, Ian, Andy and
Lorcan in the saddle and Joe driving the back-up
van.
"Although we're all pretty fit, none of us have much
experience with long distance cycling, so it's going
to be one serious challenge," said Johnny. |
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From here to Tangier...Pictured are
Andy Gillespie, Johnny Doherty, Ian Finlay and
Lorcan Fields. Absent from photo ("because he's so
damn good-looking he'd make the rest of us look
bad") is Joe Doherty. |
Their plan is to cycle
across Wales and England, down through France and
Spain and onwards to north Africa, averaging about
110 miles a day.
They will camp out in tents every night to save
money so their route will largely be chosen around
the availability of campsites.
Johnny (29) who is based at Store Street Garda
Station in Dublin and Newtown-based Joe (35) are the
sons of Patsy and Kathleen Doherty, Chapel Glen,
Clonmany.
The team has chosen Aware to benefit from their
endeavour, to raise funds and awareness about mental
health in Ireland.
"Depression affects a lot of people in Irish
society. Nearly everyone we talk to about our cycle,
tells us about someone in their family who has
experienced depression," added Johnny. The men have
opened two accounts and have so far raised some
1,000 euro towards their target of 10,000 euro. They
have also organised a collection to co-incide with
Take That's concert at Croke Park on June 18; a
bag-pack at Tesco, Maynooth on July 16 and a
collection on Grafton Street on August 13. If you
would like to support the lads please visit
www.fromheretotangier.com - and click on the
'sponsor' link. |
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